Tom Hulme
Tom completed his Diploma of Higher Education in Nursing Studies in 1996, and his BSc (Hons) in Community Mental Health Nursing in 2002. Each was a positive experience that helped change his career path.
"I started my studies quite late, having spent nine years in dead-end office jobs, doing bar work and training as a brick layer. I also spent 18 months travelling and working in Australia, South East Asia and the United States. So when I decided on a three-year nursing diploma, I knew it might well dictate what I'd spend the next 30 years doing.
A challenging role
When I graduated in 1996, I went to work in a secure unit. This involved dealing with forensic mental health patients who had come through the courts, prisons or special hospitals. Often these were people who, 'pose a serious danger to the general public', so it was quite a stressful environment to be in. After four years I was much clearer about what I wanted to do next, and ready to make a change, which is what brought me back to UWE.
Changing direction
I was keen to move into a more community-based role and a BSc (Hons) in Community Mental Health Nursing helped me do that. I did a six-month placement, as part of my degree, which was really useful. It also led to a permanent job and some new challenges - first in an Intensive Care Unit, working with people who are at the most acute phase of their illness and needing high levels of support - and then into a role in Bristol's Crisis Team. As part of this community-based team, I would see and treat people at home, as an alternative to them coming into hospital.
I left the crisis team in 1995, to work in a busy Liaison Psychiatry team in the University Hospital, Bristol. We deal with anyone who comes to A&E with serious mental health difficulties such as psychosis, hypomania or major depression, which can lead to self-harm and suicide attempts.
Job satisfaction
The work I do can be hugely rewarding - our aim is to help people get their lives back to some kind of order. And the great thing about the health service is that you can work in two to three specific clinical areas before you decide where your future lies. I've just started an MSc in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and would eventually like to set myself up as an accredited therapist, so my career is continuing to change and develop.
But it's not all work, I do a lot of running to help clear my head and love spending time with my beautiful wife and four healthy, wonderful children."
Page last updated 1 November 2011